Curriculum Paper Outline

Julia Landon College Preparatory and Leadership Development School Curriculum Paper Course Title: Comprehensive Science 2 Adv. & Gifted Teacher: Mr. John Manias Mission Statement: Our Mission at the Julia Landon College Preparatory and Leadership Development School is to create college bound students with a deep commitment to public service and a true understanding of their leadership skills within the global community.

Course Overview:

The seventh grade science curriculum centers on Florida’s Sunshine State Standards. The concepts in the seventh grade are the Earth, Space and Physical sciences, with a special emphasis on investigations and experimentation in each area, as well as appropriate observance of safety guidelines. Seventh grade students will be using the Holt Science and Technology text book. The book can be viewed online at www.my.hrw.com. All Classes will follow the 5 E science model which is explained as follows: Students engage by • demonstrating background knowledge on a topic • viewing and questioning a discrepant or novel (surprising) event • pondering an essential, open-ended question or problem-based scenario • participating in a discovery activity Students explore by • experiencing an inquiry activity or investigation introducing one or more concepts • sharing ideas • building common knowledge base • identifying further questions • analyzing and interpreting data from inquiry activity • planning and preparing a directed or guided inquiry activity Students explain by • sharing interpretations of data with other students and the teacher • building mental and/or concrete models • writing about concepts • creating vocabulary maps and graphic organizers. Students extend by • applying what they have learned to new problems or situations • clarifying concepts and explanations with teachers and other sources of scientific knowledge by reading, researching, and discussing

Students evaluate understanding by • reviewing what they have learned • completing short-answer and extended response items and scoring them with a rubric • organizing information needed for the unit performance task • discussing written items and performance tasks with others and the teacher • taking quizzes and tests

Course Outline:

First Nine Weeks: Changes in Matter • Practice and Characteristics of Science • Properties of Matter • Physical and chemical changes in matter Second Nine Weeks | Energy & Space • Energy Transformation • Forms of Energy • Space • Stars and Galaxies Third Nine Weeks | Genetics • Cellular Reproduction • Heredity • Genetic Engineering • Diversity and Evolution Fourth Nine Weeks | Interdependence • Energy Flow in Ecosystems • Interdependence • Cycles • Photosynthesis and Respiration

Student Evaluation:

Weekly Grade Sheet/Bellringers: 15% Class Assignments: 20 % Home Work: 10 % Labs: 30 % Quizzes/Tests: 25% Rubrics will be posted in class and online for students before any projects and labs.

Educational Materials:

Students are required to have a 1 inch 3-ring binder with dividers. The dividers will be separate the notebook into sections: bell ringers, class assignments, notes, home work, labs and tests/quizzes.

Homework/Late Work Policy:

Team 7A will accept home work one day late with a deduction of points.

Make-up Work Policy:

All assignments will be posted online on either the teacher’s blog and/or online grade book. It is the student’s responsibility to get make-up work from their teachers. Absent student will be given the same numbers of days they were out to complete make-up work.

Grade Recovery Policy:

Students will be offered grade recovery as outlined in the Duval County Pupil Progression Plan found on the Duval County Public Schools web page.

Parent/Teacher Conferences:

Conferences will be held during team 7A’s planning period.

Tutoring Schedule: TBA

Grading Scale:

Students will be evaluated in accordance with the standard Duval County Public Schools’ grading scale.

Progress Reports:

In addition to report cards issued at the end of each quarter, students will receive 2 progress reports each quarter. Students earning a grade of “D” or “F” on a progress report will be required to return the progress report signed by the parent/guardian within two days.